Concepts in Enterprise Resource Planning

Finally, a text that combines an overview of basic business functions with a neutral, conceptual introduction to enterprise resource planning! Before one can appreciate the sweeping business trend toward enterprise — or integrated — systems, one must understand how businesses have been using unintegrated systems for years. This text starts at the beginning, by discussing the traditional, or unintegrated, approach. It then proceeds to an introduction of enterprise systems using SAP R/3 screenshots and plain English. Rather than delve into the functionality of this, or any ERP software package, the authors have combined their 30 years of introductory MIS instruction to create a no-nonsense look at what ERP can do for businesses today. For anyone who aims to make sound business decisions in the 21st century, this ERP primer is a must.

• This general overview of ERP begins by delineating basic business functions and how they work together.
• A running case shows how a company might make the move from unintegrated to integrated, or enterprise systems to better control its systems and increase profits.
• All screenshots are taken from SAP R/3, the leading ERP software package.

1. Business Functions, Processes, and Date Requirements
• Objectives
• Introduction
• Functional Areas and Business Processes
• Functional Areas and Business Processes of a Very Small Business
• Functional Areas and Information Systems
• Exercises
• Summary
2. The Development of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
• Objectives
• Introduction
• The Evolution of Infomation Systems
• ERP Software Emerges: SAP and R/3
• Questions About ERP
• The Continuing Evolution of ERP
• Exercises
• Summary
• End Notes
3. Marketing Information Systems and the Sales Order Process
• Objectives
• Introduction
• Overview of Fitter Snacker
• Problems with Fitter Snacker's Sales Process
• Sales and Distribution in ERP
• A Standard Order in SAP R/3
• Customer Relationship Management
• Exercises
• Summary
• End Notes
• Bibliography
4. Production and Materials Management Information Systems
• Objectives
• Introduction
• Production Overview
• The Production Planning Process
• ERP in Supply-Chain Management
• Exercises
• Summary
• End Notes
5. Accounting and Finance
• Objectives
• Introduction
• Accounting and Finance Activities
• Operational Decision-Making Problem: Credit Management
• Product Profitability Analysis
• Management Reporting with ERP Systems
• Exercises
• Summary
• End Notes
6. ERP and the World Wide Web
• Objectives
• Introduction
• E-Commerce Background
• Using ERP Through an ASP
• Connectivity
• Summary
• End Notes

This is an excellent primer on ERP, in fact the best I've ever read. It's a pity it is so SAP R/3-centric.